ABRAZO 2016 ABRAZO is a dual creation by photographer Caroline Hayeur and the interdisciplinary artist D. Kimm. One artist captures movements and atmospheres, the other has danced the tango for several years, developing a relationship with the tango community which allows the two artists to offer an insider’s vision, beyond clichés. Presented for the first time in 2016 at Occurrence, Espace d’art et d’essai contemporains, in Montreal, the corpus combines photo and video installations.

ABRAZO at Occurrence – Espace d’art et d’essai contemporains, Montreal © Caroline Hayeur

The result is a series of photographic prints presented in some fifty vintage frames; a large format double projection slideshow of abrazo; a couple dancing in the snow; Argentine milongueros performing a dance; an immersive installation of scenes filmed in milongas (dance halls). This range of elements creates a game of exchange where North and South intertwine in images captured in Buenos Aires and in Montreal. Hayeur and Kimm approach tango as a social dance and place of confluence for enthusiasts of various backgrounds, different generations and social classes. The dimensions of live show, competition, performance and the historical aspect of the dance are deliberately set aside. This first collaboration brings together photos and videos collected during a residency in Buenos Aires in 2014 and continues in 2016 inside the tango community in Montreal. The artists’ approach and their challenge was to translate the ritual of the abrazo, the physical relation (how to hold oneself in the other’s arms) and the emotional.

The theme of the abrazo / encounter / connection is a reflection on the relationships between men / women, social codes, fragility, social norms, appropriation of the queer identity, representation / staging of the Self or the “we”.

Photo prints in antique frames, Space 1, Occurence, Montreal, 2016, © Caroline Hayeur

Presentation of videos Encuentro Ruth, Daniel y Pamela, double slide show projection,

Immersive installation, Occurence, Montreal, 2016 and Atoll, Victoriavillle, 2017 © Caroline Hayeur

The audience is thus immersed in the universe of tango, enveloped in a unique and sensual experience which combines new technologies, documentary images and emotion.

Opening of the exhibition at Occurence, 2016 © Jean-François Leblanc

ABRAZO is produced in collaboration with Les Filles électriques and Phenomena festival, whose objective is to create improbable encounters and to support interdisciplinary, and unconventional artistic practices. ABRAZO Technical description: 55 numeric prints and refurbished frames, variable dimensions Video diptych 100 photographs slide show with texts 7 minutes, 44 seconds Visited milongas: Buenos Aires : Bichito Tango / Club Independancia, Confitería Ideal, Espacio El Tacuari, Festival tango queer / La Marshall et La Maldita, La Viruta, Los Jueves de Ana Postigo / 444 Cochabamba, Los Laureles, Plaza Dorrego, Sunderland Club Montreal : Chez Coco / Rialto, Grand Bal Tango / Rialto Festival Tango Queer / Air de Tango, La Pratica / Studio Tango Tango Social Club, Serres de Verdun, Tangueria / Petite Italie park

D. Kimm and Caroline Hayeur planning the exhibition, 2016 © Chloé Charbonnier

Video  pieces  Tango  in  the  snow,  1  minute,  08  seconds  Jo-­‐Anne  and  Jean-­‐Guy,  Montreal,  Jarry  park  Encuentro  Ruth,  Daniel  y  Pamela,  5  minutes,  40  seconds  Buenos  Aires:  Espacio  El  Tacuari,  Plaza  Dorrego  and  Cochabamba      Immersive  video  installation  (3  or  4  projectors  linked)    ¿Quiere  bailar?,  5  min.  30  sec.  Five  milongas  and  music  Buenos  Aires    Los  Jueves  de  Ana  Postigo,  Cochabamba  –  Mandria,  Juan  D'Arienzo  y  Su  Orquesta  &  Mario  Bustos  Plaza  Dorego  –  A  Media  Luz,  Enrique  Rodriguez  La  Confiteria  Ideal  –  Voz  de  Tango  /  Nelly  Omar  Sunderland  Club  –  Dejame  Asi,  Alfredo  de  Angelis  Orquesta  Montreal    Chez  Coco,  Rialto  –  Desde  El  Alma,  Pugliese  Piazzolla  Grand  Bal  Tango,  Rialto  –  El  Cencerro,  Juan  D’Arienzo  y  Su  Orquesta    Tour:  2016  –  ABRAZO,  Occurrence  –  Espace  d’art  et  d’essai  contemporains,  Montreal  2017  –  ABRAZO,  Atoll  –  art  actuel,  Victoriaville